Search - The Club Dumas

The movie 'The Ninth Gate' was based upon this book. If you have seen the movie, disregard it. There are several basic similarities, but (as always) so much is left out. The main omission: everything that has to do with Alexandre Dumas and 'The Three Musketeers', plot lines which make up the majority of this book.

This was a fantastic mystery that threw in shades of Sherlock Holmes, the occult, secret societies, and fanatical book lovers/collectors. It is not a fast read but it was well worth the time I spent on it.

In addition to being a well-written mystery with a twist, it also provides innumerable references to 'The Three Musketeers' and to the life and work of Alexandre Dumas. I have not yet read 'Musketeers' (it is now next on my list) but that did not diminish my enjoyment of this book.

The plot gets a little busy at times and there is a lot to keep up with, but in all the story is expertly crafted. If you are a book lover who enjoys a good mystery that will leave you guessing until the end, then this is an absolute must-read.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Review: This is the novel that the movie "The Ninth Gate" is based on. It follows an unscrupulous book hunter who is one two quests. First, he is trying to authenticate a handwritten chapter from "The Three Musketeers". Second, he is looking into three copies of an occult book "Book of the Nine Doors of the Kingdom of Shadows". As the book goes one mysterious shenanigans surround both books, causing our protagonist to seek the connection between them.

This book is full of historical tidbits about "The Three Musketeers", Alexandre Dumas and the occult scene in Europe in the 1600s. These were all very interesting and enjoyable to read. The first part of the ending is absolutely a delight, though a reader taking the book more seriously than I did might find it frustrating and disappointing.

At times I thought the plot dragged on a bit and I would find myself thinking "Get on with it". The characters seemed a bit stilted as well, with the motivations of a few characters either missing entirely or feeling just a bit off.